The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy & Herbalism

Very informative and easy to look up info. A must have for oil lovers. The book I received was as described, shipped fast and great price.

Good book but Incomplete information.

I absolutely LOVE this book! I truly feel that every essential oil home needs this book. Very informative, to the point and easy to follow.

I am new to essential oils and this book is both informative and beautifully illustrated.

If I had to have only two books in my Aromatherapy Library, this would be one of them, along with The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, by Salvatore Battaglia. I have been an Aromatherapist since 2003, I know - a relatively short time - but a productive time, and I could not have accomplished what I have without this book. It is a very complete list - if not the best list - of essential oils available in book form, with all their properties, chemical breakdown, methods of extraction, history, ancient uses for the plants and oils, modern uses, toxicity and as if this wasn't enough - the photos are marvolous and extremely helpful in identifying plants and the oil colour. Every plant gets a whole page and the format repeats and is so easy to follow. What makes this book stand out among its peers is the ease of use with an excellent index, glossary of terms, botanical index, botanical classification and references (just because a book has these thing doesn't mean they are always good or useful). The most toxic of essential oils, which are hardly mention in other books , or, we are merely warned to stay away from for aromatherapy use, are also covered in Ms. Lawlwess' book, and I am glad for that because I want to know the "why" of everything. Why is it bad? After all - this is meant as a reference book, not a "how to". It is one of the most important books on essential oils and you are cheating yourself not to have a copy. I don't know if Ms. Julia Lawless is alive, and if she is, when she will come out with an updated version, but I sure hope so.

I have ordered this book, and I have yet to put it down!! There are at least 165 essential oils in this book, along with the photos that correspond with the name of the oil/herbs. This book shows a very beautiful illustration of aromatherapy, and it tells you which oils to avoid as well. I would say to any aspiring aromatherapist, or someone who is doing this as a hobby, this is THE book you need to add to your collection.

Julia Lawless's Encyclopedia of Essential Oils is rightfully regarded as one of the primary reference books for anyone who wants to explore essential oils and their uses in aromatherapy. Beautifully organized and wonderfully easy to use, it is far and away the most frequently-consulted volume in my aromatherapy library. The book includes a concise outline of the history, chemistry and use of essential oils, although this section is more of a summary/review than a primer for beginners to the field. The heart of the book is Lawless's admirably consistent, clear and detailed presentation of 165 common and uncommon essential oils. In a spacious, well- organized and convenient lay-out, she gives each plant's common name, Latin name and synonyms; its description and distribution; related species; traditional and herbal uses; extraction methods; the aroma and appearance of the oil; chemical and (sensibly cautious) safety data as well as its uses in aromatherapy and in the home. All that's missing are "scratch and sniff" strips!